Gaithersburg Pedestrian Accident Attorney
Data indicate that about 100 people die in pedestrian crashes in Maryland each year. Many other people sustain severe injuries in these accidents. Pedestrians are in a vulnerable position on the road, as demonstrated by the fact that 92 percent of people in Maryland who are struck by cars are either injured or killed. The risks are clearly far greater than are those for people inside of vehicles.
Over the past few years, pedestrian crashes have been particularly high throughout the country. It is incredibly important that people on the road, both in and out of cars, use extra caution to avoid these devastating accidents. Motorists need to learn about the dangers that they create for people who are walking. In the state, more pedestrian collisions occur after dark, outside of intersections, and in urban places. Drivers in those areas should remember to be vigilant about looking where they are going and keeping their speed within the limit.
One of the issues that is undoubtedly making matters worse for pedestrians is the popularity of larger cars. Studies show a clear relationship between SUVs and a greater risk of serious injuries or death in pedestrian crashes.
If you were injured in a pedestrian accident in Gaithersburg, Maryland, you should contact an attorney to discuss your claim. Suffering injuries in a pedestrian crash can leave a person in physical pain, unable to work, and with costly medical bills. Holding the driver who struck you accountable can reduce the burden imposed by the crash and help you focus on your recovery.
Call Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP today at 301-670-7030 to speak to an experienced Gaithersburg pedestrian accident attorney.
Why Do Drivers Hit Pedestrians in Gaithersburg, Maryland?
While pedestrian crashes are becoming more common, it is important to remember that these often tragic events are not inevitable. In fact, two European cities, Oslo and Helsinki, suffered not one single pedestrian death in all of 2019. What those cities teach us is that it is possible to make the roads safer for foot traffic. However, many American cities would be reluctant to take the aggressive approaches that those Scandinavian capitals did to achieve their results.
When it comes to pedestrian crashes, many driver behaviors commonly lead to these accidents. Here are some of the common factors:
- The driver is speeding and cannot stop in time to avoid a person in the street
- The driver is distracted
- The driver cannot see because the road is poorly lit
- The driver does not give enough space to a person walking on the road
- The driver is trying to turn and is focused on looking for other cars, and not people
- The driver is drunk and driving erratically or recklessly
Of course, these behaviors often cause crashes between cars as well. The difference is that unlike vehicle occupants, people walking on the road lack the outer protective shell, seatbelts, airbags, and other safety features afforded to those in a vehicle. As a result, their injuries are often far more severe.
If you were hurt in a pedestrian accident, it is important that you reach out to an experienced Gaithersburg, Maryland car crash attorney to discuss your claim.
What Laws Apply to My Gaithersburg, Maryland Pedestrian Claim?
Personal injury lawsuits, such as those filed by a pedestrian who suffered injuries in a collision with a car, are based on negligence. Negligent behavior involves the breach of a duty to behave as a reasonably prudent person under the circumstances.
Not every person who is in a car crash will be considered negligent. However, the vast majority of car accidents are the result of negligent behavior. Looking at a phone while driving, speeding, and rolling through a stop sign are all common behaviors among drivers, but they also can be considered negligent.
Where Maryland negligence law departs from most other states is in its treatment of injured persons who may bear some amount of fault for their injuries. Under the theory of “contributory negligence,” which is followed in Maryland, a person who is partly to blame for his or her injuries will not be able to collect from the other person who caused those injuries, even if he or she was less at fault than the other person. Most states will permit a person to recover in those situations.
If you were injured in a Gaithersburg, Maryland pedestrian accident, contact an attorney today to learn your options for recovering compensation.
Gaithersburg, Maryland Pedestrian Accident Attorneys
At Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP, our dedicated team of Gaithersburg, Maryland pedestrian crash attorneys is here to help those who suffered injuries in these serious accidents. If you were harmed in a pedestrian accident, contact us today at 301-670-7030 to speak to an experienced Gaithersburg, Maryland personal injury lawyer.
